Imagine finally squeezing in a guilt-free hour off your calendar—only to find your mind racing about everything you “should” be doing. That’s the paradox of free time today. In this post, we explore why downtime often feels like another to-do list, and what it takes to actually rest (hint: permission and mindset matter).

Let’s say someone actually manages to delegate and get a bit of time back to rejuvenate. They carve out an hour, a weekend, maybe even a proper vacation. Cue the deep exhale and sense of relief… right? Not quite. 

For most Americans, free time doesn’t feel freeing—it feels fraught. Three out of four (75%) say that even when they do get downtime, it comes with the pressure of something they “should” be doing. Instead of rest, they feel restlessness. Instead of recharging, they feel like they’re falling behind. 

This isn’t just ambient stress—it’s a deep, internalized sense that we must earn our rest, or at the very least, make it productive. 

And this burden isn’t evenly distributed. It hits hardest for women and younger adults. A full 78% of Americans aged 18–64 say their free time feels overshadowed by the sense that there’s “always something I should be doing.” Among women, 76% report this pressure. And for those aged 18–34, it spikes to a startling 80%—with 40% strongly agreeing with that statement. That’s not a little stress; that’s a loud, persistent mental load. 

It’s no wonder so many people feel like they’re barely keeping their heads above water. Across the board, 64% of people aged 18–54 admit they’re mostly just trying to get through the day. Among 18–34 year olds, that number is even starker—71% agree that they’re surviving more than living. This isn’t just a tough season. For many, it’s become a way of life. 

Yes, support helps. The data shows that those who are married or earn more than $100K annually report feeling slightly less burdened by life’s tasks. But even with that additional support, the relief is modest. Almost half (49%) of households earning over $100k and half (50%) of married individuals say that most of the time, they feel like they are just trying to get through the day. 

And when it comes to the feeling that time itself is out of reach, the strain is widespread. Half of all Americans say time feels like a luxury they can’t afford. That number climbs significantly for younger adults and women. Among those aged 18–34, 67% agree. And for women in that age group, it spikes to an overwhelming 74%. 

In other words: time isn’t just scarce—it’s slipping out of reach for the very people juggling the most.

It's impacting all of us. Read our full report here.

Want relief? Sign up for Duckbill today.